‘We have had enough’: Neighbours meet over student block fears in Moulsecoomb

A community meeting is to be held over fears about what plans for a large block of student flats could mean for the neighbourhood.

Developer McLaren Property has submitted plans for buildings ranging from five to seven storeys with 378 student bedrooms as well as offices and community space at One Moulsecoomb Way.

Co-chair of the Moulsecoomb Local Action Team (LAT) Barry Burtenshaw set up the meeting for Wednesday, June 5, after discussions with councillor Daniel Yates.

Mr Burtenshaw said he and his neighbours want to see more family homes on the site.

He said: “We have had enough. The council wanted family homes as so many homes are HMOs (houses in multiple occupancy).

“A lot of kids are not going to our schools because there are not the families moving into Moulsecoomb and Bevendean.

“We require family homes.”

Mr Burtenshaw said council tenants in the area could not move away from the noise and mess of the multiple student homes in the area in the way a home owner could as there was nowhere for them to go.

The development would replace skip hire company KSD Environmental Services Ltd, St Francis of Assisi RC Church and two cottages.

Councillor Yates told the LAT meeting he was aware of a petition against the plans.

He explained how a petition with a thousand signatures counts as one objection but each one of 1,000 different letters counts individually.

Councillor Yates said: “It’s important for as many residents as possible to understand what is involved and for them to have their say, and for the community to understand what are the right sorts of responses to it.

“It’s important for us as councillors to hear what people’s views are and help people with their responses to the planning application.